Importance of Avani Avittam Rituals.Its origin & Significance.....

.Avani Avittam  - Importance of Avani Avittam Rituals.Its origin & Significance.....

Legend has it that Lord Hayagriva, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, brought back the Vedas stolen by Asuras on this day.

Gayatri Japam Sankalmpam is noted for the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra for 1008 or 108 times. The sequence and the mode of performing the rituals depend on mutt (Math) affiliation.

Sama Vedi Brahmins perform the ritual the day after Shravan Amavasi

Avani Avittam | Origin and Significance................

Avani Avittam or Upakarma is primarily practised today among the Brahmin community. This custom was once practised by Kshatriyas and Vaishyas too. Upakarma is a vedic ritual when the person changes his holy thread (Yagnopaveetham). The Following day Gayatri Mantra is recited 1008 times and the day it attributed for Gayatri Japam.

Origin:.......................

Upakarma is translated as “Beginning”. It essentially means that the person starts the process of learning the Veda. Yajur Upakarma means that the process of starting to learn the Yajur Veda. Yajur Vedis observe Upakarma during the month of Aadi or Shravan on the full moon day. This particular day is auspicious as it is the day in which Lord Narayana assumed the avatar of Lord Hayagriva, who is the God of knowledge and restored the Vedas to Lord Brahma. Rig Vedis observe the upakarma on the day before if the full moon day falls on two days. On the other hand, Sama vedis observe Upakarma on the month of Avani on the Hastha Nakshatra. But all observe the Gayatri Japam on the same day, i.e the day next to Yajur Vedha Upakarma.

As the obvious question of why observe the Upakarma if it’s about starting the learning of Vedas. During the ancient days, the Vedas were performed only between the months of Aadi – Thai. Therefore, one is supposed to perform an “utsarjanam” in the month of Thai, i.e., a giving up of the learning of Vedas from Thai to Avani. Just like a Upakarma function there was a Utsarjana function in Thai. The period between January to August was then devoted to learning other branches of our shastras. Thus the cycle of Upakarma and Utsarjana with regard to Vedic studies was established. However, this method took 12 or more years to learn just one veda. Slowly this became impractical and Vedic studies continued throughout the year.

The practice and purpose:.......

The main purpose of the Upakarma function is to offer prayers and express our gratitude to those rishis who gave us the Vedas — the rishis through whom the Vedic mantras were revealed. These rishis are known as “kaanda rishis”. In the Upakarma Homam as well as in the tharpanam, the offerings are made to the kaanda rishis. In fact, this tharpanam is so important that it is included as part of our daily worship.

On the day of Avani Avittam, the sacred thread worn is changed and it is usually a community observance and takes place on the banks of a pond or river. Avani is the name of the Tamil month and Avittam is one of the 27 nakshatras or stars. On this day, a Mahasankalpam or a vow is taken for the atonement of all our sins in the past year. The Brahmins take a holy dip and wear a new holy thread called Yagnopaveetham or Janeyu.

avani-avittam-procedure......

The first step is a ‘prayashchita’, A prayer to atone the sins for having learned Vedas during the prohibited period. Specifically, one atones for not having performed the Utsarjanam in the month of Thai. That’s why we begin the function by doing the “kAmo’karshIt…” japam. It says, “For the removal of all my sins and thereby to secure a divine blessing and for qualifying myself to perform the essential duties of Brahmanas as prescribed in the vedas and smritis and adopted by the really good in their conduct I put on this Yagnopavita”. When the thread is worn another mantra is recited which means -”I put on the sacred thread which is highly pure, is inseparable from God, is capable of prolonging life and is the foremost in the accomplishment of a Brahmana. May such pure Yagnopavita bring strength and dignity. While removing the old thread, the mantra means -”I throw away the broken dirty old thread, may the new one bring on long life and Brahmana’s brilliance.

After the kamo’karsheeth japam, we proceed to perform the Upakarma function. It is done after mAdhyAhnikam and bhagavad-ArAdhanam (ijyA). The main purpose of the Upakarma function is to offer prayers and express our gratitude to those rishis who gave us the Vedas — the rishis through whom the Vedic mantras were revealed. These rishis are known as “kaanda rishis”. There are different rishis for the different Vedas. We are expected to worship those rishis who belong to our shakha or branch of the Veda,

Thala Avani Avittam:...........

upakarma............

For the first Avani Avittam, ie., that comes immediate after one’s Upanayana, Naandi Sraaddha also is to be performed – in hiranya rupam. In addition to this, there are some more rites specifically prescribed. However it may be noted that there is no Kamokarsheen Japam for the boys who have Pradhama sravanam. Also it is advisable to get the thalai Aavani Avittam is performed with the same Acharya, Vadhyar, who has conducted the Upanayana (Brahmopadesa) for the boy. And for this occasion, for homam, jaggery payiru sundal and appam are used for neivedhyam.

History of Avani Avittam/ Upakramam............

Also called the Upakramam, the beginning, the day recalls the reincarnation of the Lord Vishnu, the preserver in the Hindu trinity of Gods, as Hayagriva, the God of knowledge. The Lord had restored the Vedas to Brahma on this day, hence the festival signifies the beginning of the reading of the Yajur Veda for the next six months.

In Southern India the festival celebrates knowledge and the pursuit of it. Traditionally, Brahmins were known as men of knowledge and they have sought to study the Vedas and derive its meanings over centuries. This continues till day as each Brahmin sets out to achieve the goal of transcendence, oneness with the creator Brahma. This day is celebrated as Nariyal Purnima or Rakhi Purnima in the west and Kajri Purnima in the North.

J.KANNAN, M.Com, FIATA

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